Maternal Lipids in Pregnancy and Later Life Dyslipidemia: The POUCHmoms Longitudinal Cohort Study

Galit Levi Dunietz*, Claudia Holzman, Xiru Lyu, Riva Tauman, Janet M. Catov

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objective: Maternal lipid levels increase in normal pregnancies. Here, we examine whether pregnancies with the highest total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or triglyceride levels or the lowest high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels predict future dyslipidemia post-pregnancy. Design: Longitudinal cohort study. Setting: Five communities in Michigan, USA. Sample: Pregnant women (n = 649) with blood lipid levels measured at mid-pregnancy in the Pregnancy Outcomes and Community Health (POUCH) Study and at the POUCHmoms Study follow-up, 7–15 years later. Methods: Maternal mid-pregnancy lipid levels were defined as ‘high’ (upper quartile of triglycerides ≥ 216 mg/dL, LDL ≥ 145 mg/dL and total cholesterol ≥ 256 mg/dL) or ‘low’ (lower quartile, HDL < 58 mg/dL) using whole sample lipid distributions. At follow-up, dyslipidemia was classified by the clinical cutoffs of triglycerides and total cholesterol ≥ 200 mg/dL, LDL ≥ 130 mg/dL and HDL < 50 mg/dL. Weighted regression models estimated the risk of dyslipidemia at follow-up in relation to pregnancy lipid levels, adjusted for baseline confounders. Main Outcome Measure: Dyslipidemia later in life. Results: Mid-pregnancy triglycerides, LDL, and total cholesterol levels at the upper quartile were associated with at least threefold increase in the risk of abnormal triglycerides, LDL and total cholesterol levels later in life. Women with low mid-pregnancy HDL levels had just over a twofold increased risk of abnormally low HDL levels at follow-up. These associations persisted following adjustment for covariates, i.e. demographics, lifestyle, and years of follow-up. Conclusions: Higher mid-pregnancy LDL, total cholesterol and triglycerides and lower levels of HDL may signal future dyslipidemia risk and the need for closer lipid monitoring to ensure timely interventions that can attenuate cardiovascular disease risk.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)212-219
Number of pages8
JournalBJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Volume132
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2025

Funding

FundersFunder number
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Eunice Kennedy Shriver
National Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteK01 HL144914, R01‐HL103825
March of Dimes Foundation20FY04‐37, 20FY01‐38
Centers for Disease Control and PreventionU01‐DP000143‐01
National Institute of Nursing ResearchR01‐HD34543
Thrasher Research Fund02816–7

    Keywords

    • high-density lipoprotein cholesterol
    • lipids
    • low-density lipoprotein cholesterol
    • pregnancy
    • total cholesterol
    • triglycerides

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Maternal Lipids in Pregnancy and Later Life Dyslipidemia: The POUCHmoms Longitudinal Cohort Study'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this